There are so many choices for live music in September, with much of it absolutely free, that it’s hard to know where to start.
Live on the Green runs through September 5 at Public Square Park in Downtown Nashville. This FREE outdoor festival picks up Friday, Sep 2, with Moon Taxi, Colony House, The Wild Feathers, Seratones, The Foxies, The Shindellas, and Sweet Lizzy Project. Saturday, Sep 3, Santigold, Cautious Clay, Ruby Amanfu, Daisha McBride, Los Colognes, and Phillip-Michael Scales. Sunday, Sep 4, Devon Gilfillian, Stephen Day, Strung Like A Horse, The Criticals, Nordista Freeze, TaylsTaylor, and Bickett. And on Monday, Sep 5, Yola, Arrested Development, Patrick Droney, Susto, The Brummies, Daniel Donato, LadyCouch, and Fulton Lee.
Musician’s Corner, also FREE, at Nashville’s Centennial Park, kicks off its September Sundown on Friday, Sept 2, with 5:05 PM: Ellisa Sun; 5:45 PM: Connor Kelly & The Time Warp; 6:30 PM: Teddy & The Rough Riders; 7:20 PM: ZG Smith of Smooth Hound Smith; and 8:15 PM: Dylan LeBlanc.
The FREE Smashin’ Crab Music Festival is back, celebrating fresh seafood and local musicians at their Hendersonville location, Center Stage at The Streets of Indian Lake on Saturday, September 3, from 3 PM until 9 PM. The Carl Stewart Band, Audra McLaughlin, Will Davenport and Khrys Hatch perform at this year’s event for the entire family, with a Bouncy House, Face Painting, Magicians, and Vendors. Smashin’ Crab is at 300 Indian Lake Boulevard, #Bldg B100, Hendersonville, TN 37075
Nashville Public Library’s Courtyard Concerts returns with FREE in-person performances starting Tuesday, Sept. 6. The Library’s free lunchtime concert series is held in the Robinson Courtyard at NPL’s Main Library (615 Church St.). The concerts run 11:45 a.m. – 1 p.m. every Tuesday through Oct. 11. This year’s lineup features an enticing mix of new artists and returning favorites. First up is Riders In The Sky.
Musician’s Corner picks up its FREE September Sundown shows on Friday, September 9 with 5:05 PM: The Magi; 5:45 PM: Future Crib; 6:30 PM: Jive Talk; 7:20 PM: Goldpark; and 8:15 PM: Stephen Sanchez. Friday, September 16, in partnership with Americanafest; 5:05 PM: Lilli Lewis; 5:45 PM: Mark Wilkinson; 6:25 PM: The Ballroom Thieves; 7:05 PM: Emily Scott Robinson; and 8:05 PM: Joe Purdy; then Saturday September 17, again in partnership with Americanafest, 12:05 PM: Bandits on the Run; 12:45 PM: Ryland Moranz; 1:25 PM: Lady Nade; 2:05 PM: The Reverend Shawn Amos; 3:05 PM: Taylor Rae; 4:05 PM: Chris Pierce; and 5:05 PM: Josh Rouse. Friday, September 23, 5:05 PM: Julia Cannon; 5:45 PM: Julia Gomez; 6:30 PM: Laney Jones; 7:20 PM: Los Coast; and 8:15 PM: Erin Rae. And, finally, on September 30, 5:05 PM: Shirley H; 5:45 PM: Valerie Ponzio; 6:30 PM: Stoop Kids; 7:20 PM: Nordista Freeze; and closing it out at 8:15 PM: The Shindellas.
The 22nd annual Americanafest will take place Tuesday, Sept. 13 through Saturday, Sept. 17, gathering thousands of artists, fans, and industry professionals from all over the world. Arkansas gave the world Sister Rosetta Tharpe, Louis Jordan, Johnny Cash, Charlie Rich, Al Green, Levon Helm, Ronnie Hawkins, Glen Campbell, Albert King, Howlin’ Wolf and many more. An Arkansas spotlight begins at the three-day conference portion of Americanafest on Wednesday, Sept.14, with music executive, visionary and Arkansas native Al Bell as a featured panelist for “Wattstax Now And Then: Celebrating 50 Years of Wattstax and Americana Music by Black Artists.” They will also honor the Fairfield Four, Indigo Girls, Don Williams, Al Bell and Chris Isaak at our Americana Honors & Awards on September 14 at the historic Ryman Auditorium. The list of artists is LONG. See it and more at: https://americanamusic.org/
The Pilgrimage Festival, a popular two-day family-friendly music and cultural festival in Franklin, is Saturday and Sunday, September 24-25, at the Park at Harlinsdale Farm. The 2022 lineup includes Jon Batiste, Chris Stapleton, Brandi Carlile, The Avett Brothers, and many more. The event is and ends around 8:00pm each night. Jon Batiste is set to perform on the Gold Record Road on Saturday, Sep 24, 7:20 PM – 8:30 PM. See pilgrimagefestival.com for exact dates and times for other artists, and ticket info.
The NPL Courtyard Concerts series continues each Tuesday from 11;45 am til 1:00 pm, with the following lineup: September 13, Stacy Mitchhart Band; September 20, Lalo Dávila and Friends Salsa Band; September 27, Sarah Jane Nelson; October 4, The WannaBeatles; and October 11, Connye Florance with Kevin Madill.
